President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, which has been ravaged by conflict for almost three years, said Monday his country is being confronted by a major offensive by Islamist extremists. "The country is facing a takfiri ideology," Assad said, using a term for Sunni Muslim extremists....

  The only way to be assured that Syrian chemical weapons will not be used in the future is not through a military strike but through a successful international effort. Regardless of the  postponed congressional vote regarding the use of military force...

  Chemical weapons being transported from Syria will be moved with the help of 25 armored trucks and 50 other vehicles sent by Russia, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday. The toxins are to be destroyed under an international agreement to rid the nation of its...

 Italian government has said that it supports Iran's positive presence in Geneva II conference on Syria. "We want positive presence of Iran in the international conference of Geneva II on Syria crisis," Xinhua reported citing Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino here Sunday in a...